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Elon Musk responded to these claims sharply, pointing out that much of the anger is rooted in a zero-sum mindset—an idea that wealth can only be gained at others' expense. He emphasized that his compensation isn't cash in hand but a performance award contingent upon Tesla reaching extraordinary milestones. Musk explained that he has not been paid in years and only earns if Tesla's valuation skyrockets, aligning his incentives with shareholder value and societal benefit.
The Structure of Musk's Compensation
Unlike traditional executive pay, Musk's compensation plan is built solely around stock options tied to Tesla's market cap and operational milestones. He highlighted that:
- No base salary or cash compensation is provided.